» 2010 » July Ms Sparky

KBR’s upcoming layoff (PAR) and realignment

Posted on: July 14th, 2010 at 6:21 am — by Ms Sparky

Click HERE for a PDF version of this Blue Border Alert.

It would appear KBR has recently revised their finely tuned employee selection and promotion policy. In the past, many many employees were retained and managers promoted not based on skill and qualifications, but based on what kind of dirt the employee had on the hiring manager. Then there is the “This guy has screwed up so bad we can’t fire him or he will go to the media” criteria. The “If we fire him, we can’t protect him (us) from plaintiffs attorney’s and depositions” criteria. There is always the buddy system. But rarely did I see the most competent qualified managers retained and promoted, quite the contrary. Many retentions and promotions fell under the category of “Things that make you go WTF!” And many of the most qualified competent employees and managers quickly left not wanting any part of KBR and LOGCAP.

Even though John Cusick has put it in writing, I find it difficult to believe anything has changed. Maybe I am just too skeptical where KBR is concerned. I hope Mr. Cusick is not so naive to believe that just because he mandates something to happen that it will! KBR is not the Army.

KBR has some amazingly talented and dedicated employees and then there are “the others”. Mr Cusick, I hope you can tell the difference.

Ms Sparky

Updated July 18, 2010: On July 16,2010 KBR’s John Cusick came out with memo on KBR’s realignment. Below is an excerpt.

Combining efforts to become the backbone of United States Division-North (USD-N) will be C Sites and H Sites. Leading as the USD-N Regional Project Manager will be Mr. Casey Varenas who is currently serving as the C Sites Project Manager. The KBR USD-N Regional Headquarters will be located at C1 COB Speicher in Tikrit.

Mr. John Downey will continue to lead the D&F sites while serving as Regional Project Manager of United States Division-Central (USD-C) with KBR headquarters at F2 Liberty in Baghdad. Efforts will be complimented with the support of the second USD-C team with KBR headquarters at B1 Al Asad Air Base. Mr. Terry Knight will lead efforts as the Regional Project Manager of USD-C over the areas that are currently known as the B Sites and C5 Taji.

The T Sites, G Sites and D16 Kalsu will be the site composition for United States Forces-South (USD-S), with KBR headquarters at T1 COB Adder in Tallil. Mr. David Stallard, who currently resides as the B Sites Project Manager, will lead efforts as the USD-S Regional Project Manager.

If these three are the best KBR has to offer then I guarantee I will not be running out of things to blog about.

Ms Sparky

Posted in GOV. CONTRACTORS, LOGCAP III - KBR, LOGCAP IV - KBR. Tags: Casey Varenas, David Stallard, Employee Issues-KBR, John Cusick, John Downey, LOGCAP III, LOGCAP IV, PAR, Personnel Alignment and Reduction. 179 Comments »

US “fugitives from justice” awarded $150M Defence contract in UK

Posted on: July 13th, 2010 at 3:29 pm — by Ms Sparky

It would appear our “friends” and military allies across the pond have all but lost any concept of justice, truth, integrity and let’s not forget ally allegiance. In all their infinite wisdom, the Brits have awarded a $150 million US dollar Defence contract to…….wait for it…….wait for it…….(click HERE)!!!

That’s right folks, the UK is financially rewarding a US Defense contractor who has not only been SUSPENDED from receiving any future US Government contracts but has been INDICTED with charges of fraud and conspiracy alleging it overcharged the U.S. Army on $8.5 billion worth of contracts to provide food to soldiers in Iraq, Kuwait and Jordan. What a slap in the face to your United States allies.

The contract in question is the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) Global Removals Management Services contract (previously known as the Unaccompanied Baggage Contract). From what I can tell, the Unaccompanied Baggage Removals and Storage program assists enlisted soldiers and their families with moving and storing of personal items when they are transferred to a new location or deployed. The current contract ends in October 2010. That’s when accused criminals Agility Logistics will assume the responsibility of taking special care of all the prized personal possessions of the United Kingdom’s Military and their families.

In a recent letter from Peter Luff MP Minister for Defence Equipment Support and Technology at the Ministry of Defence (MOD) it states:

While we are aware of this indictment, the MOD cannot exclude any bidder from a competitive tender or withhold contract award on the basis of an indictment. Should a conviction be secured, we will, of course, judge what impact, if any, this may have on the company’s ability to deliver the contract.

I find it negligent the Ministry of Defence would award a contract to a US Defense contractor accused of operating in such a fraudulent manner. One who has actually been suspended and indicted when there are so many US Defense contractors accused of serious fraud and negligent operations, some resulting in death and injury to US troops who have yet to be suspended or indicted for ANY of their wrong doings. One such contractor would be KBR. Awarding them a contract would be a safe bet, they seem to be untouchable.

You don’t hire a bank robber to be a bank teller, you don’t hire a pedophile to run a daycare and you don’t award indicted suspended government contractors to do government work!!! MOD we don’t want to hear any whining and sniveling about how Agility screwed you and your soldiers over and they will. But then again, the US will probably race to bail you out. We’ll bail out anyone!

Ms Sparky

Posted in Agility/PWC/GCC, GOV. CONTRACTORS, Indictments, Convictions & Arrests. Tags: Agility, Agility/PWC/GCC, Indictments, Ministry of Defence, MOD. 4 Comments »

KBR apparently suffers from RDD! (Responsibility Deficit Disorder)

Posted on: July 12th, 2010 at 4:36 pm — by Ms Sparky

KBR Says Not Responsible For Soldiers’ Health Problems

Kristian Foden-Vencil | July 12, 2010 | Portland, OR

(OPB) The military contractor KBR told a federal judge in Portland today Monday, that the company should not be held responsible for the health problems of 21 Oregon National Guard soldiers.

The soldiers say the military contractor knew, or should have known, that a water treatment facility it was working on in 2003, was contaminated with hexavelant chromium — a potent carcinogen.

The judge threw-out KBR’s first argument — that it was the Army Corps of Engineers, and not KBR, that was responsible for clean-up.

Now the company is saying Iraq was so dangerous the military was in control — not KBR — meaning KBR should be allowed to claim a combat activities exemption from being sued.

The company also argued it’s entitled to sovereign immunity – like the government — because it was essentially doing government work.

The soldier’s attorney, David Sugarman, disagrees.

David Sugarman: “It wouldn’t be very hard to done what they were supposed to do — assess the hazard, report, disclose it and not hide it.”

The judge says he expects to rule soon on whether the case can go forward. (click HERE for the original article)

Here’s a link to a great article written by Julie Sullivan at the Oregonian.

Iraq contractor cut deal for lawsuit immunity

Posted in CHEMICAL AND OTHER EXPOSURES, GOV. CONTRACTORS, LAWSUITS, Lawsuits Against KBR, Qarmat Ali Lawsuits, RIO-KBR, Sodium Dichromate @ Qarmat Ali. Tags: David Sugarman, Hexavalent Chromium, Judge Paul Papak, Qarmat Ali, Sodium Dichromate. 1 Comment »

Did KBR knowingly allow a rapist to go free in Iraq?

Posted on: July 12th, 2010 at 6:17 am — by Ms Sparky

KBR employee Anna Mayo, Age 26 after brutal attack in Iraq-Anna deserves justice. (Courtesy of Kelly Law Firm)

I first blogged about the brutal rape and assault of former KBR employee Anna Mayo on December 4, 2009 and then again on June 4, 2010. Anna was raped and brutally beaten in broad daylight in her living quarters at US military installation Joint Base Balad (JBB) in Iraq on November 30, 2009 at approx 11am. It was clear, this psycho would not be satisfied with brutally raping Anna as he tried to beat her to death as well. Anna’s injuries were so severe she was medivac’d from Iraq to Germany for extensive medical treatment. Word spread fast of this brutal attack and I was contacted by several concerned JBB residents.

Naturally, there were countless rumors as to who this rapist was. I received information the rapist was a Defense Contract Management Agency employee (DCMA) employee, a boyfriend and a soldier to name a few. According to my sources, it has been confirmed the rapist is a KBR direct hire Third Country National(TCN) from India. Apparently this rapist originally worked for Prime Projects International(PPI) and was then hired to work for KBR directly. Although I heard he was a truck driver, as of yet I am still unable to positively confirm his job title. Anna’s attorney Todd Kelly states “This KBR employee and rapist left Iraq and returned to India eight days after the rape”. (Read the rest of the story here…)

The Oregonian: Ms. Sparky aims at war contractor KBR

Posted on: July 11th, 2010 at 7:35 pm — by Forseti

Debbie Crawford manages the mssparky.com website from her Washington home while grandson Keelen Goldsworth studies nearby. The journeyman electrician spent two years working for war contractor KBR in Iraq.

Julie Sullivan, The Oregonian - Sunday, July 11, 2010 – Debbie Crawford was playing with her grandson at her Battle Ground home two years ago when she heard a news report on a Green Beret who died in Baghdad. The water pump in his Army shower was not properly grounded, and when he turned the faucet, a jolt of electricity killed him.

Crawford cried, her worst professional fear realized. She went to her laptop and began to type:

“As a licensed electrician who worked for KBR in Iraq for two years, I find this UNACCEPTABLE!!!! How did this happen? Let me give you my opinion from first-hand experience….”

Five weeks later, after a Senate staffer saw her post, Crawford testified before Congress to poor management and poor workmanship by Kellogg, Brown & Root in Iraq, including subcontracting electrical work to locals not skilled to U.S. standards and failing to check electricians’ credentials.

Two years later, the blog she started that 2008 day –mssparky.com – is the largest online catalog of news articles, opinion, leaks and lawsuits regarding war contractors. The site has drawn more than 10.8 million page hits since Jan. 1.

(Click HERE for the rest of the article)

Posted in CHEMICAL AND OTHER EXPOSURES, Media Coverage, My Interviews, Sodium Dichromate @ Qarmat Ali. Tags: Debbie Crawford, Jill Wilkins, Ms Sparky, My Interviews, Oregon National Guard, Qarmat Ali, Todd Kelly. 6 Comments »

U.S. Army major accused of raping an infant

Posted on: July 11th, 2010 at 8:48 am — by Ms Sparky

Child rapist and kiddy porn star Ex-JAG MAJ Dan Woolverton

OMG!!! I am not sure how I missed this article. Although it is a little late, I am still posting it. Just give me 5 minutes alone with him! Just 5 minutes, that’s all I need. ~Ms Sparky

U.S. Army major accused of raping an infant
By: Freeman Klopott
Examiner Staff Writer
May 21, 2010

A U.S. Army major who had 30,000 images and 100 videos of child pornography on his computers now faces rape and sodomy charges in Arlington for allegedly raping an infant.

Daniel A. Woolverton faces up to 30 years in prison when he’s sentenced in Alexandria’s federal court on Friday. Among the videos found on his computers in his Arlington home were images of Woolverton having sex with a 2- to 3-month-old baby, court documents said. After his sentencing, he’ll head to Arlington County’s Circuit Court to face the rape and sodomy charges.

Woolverton pleaded guilty to possessing the child pornography in January. Before an FBI agent linked Woolverton to images downloaded from Woolverton’s computer through a peer-to-peer file sharing network, the major’s career as an Army trial lawyer was on the fast track.

According to court documents, Woolverton had been put in for a promotion to lieutenant colonel not long before he was arrested late last year. The West Point graduate handled Army contract litigation, and served tours in Kuwait and Iraq.

That was, of course, before the FBI agent downloaded the pornographic images and authorities searched Woolverton’s home. On two computers, they discovered thousands of child porn images, documents said.

Among them were images of a man, who was wearing a wristwatch that matched Woolverton’s, raping an infant with rooms of Woolverton’s house in the background, authorities said.

Woolverton has since been disbarred and discharged from the Army, court records said.

When the child pornography charges were filed against Woolverton in December, his wife called Woolverton’s Army buddy, retired chaplain Maj. John Stepp. In a letter to U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton, Stepp said when he heard Deborah Woolverton’s voice, “I knew something must be wrong.” He continued: “My first thought was that Dan had deployed and had been killed. Part of me wishes that was the truth, because I still have trouble accepting the fact that my best Army buddy did these terrible crimes.” Stepp wrote Woolverton a letter saying he and God would forgive him. Woolverton responded. “I am sorry for what I have done and what I have become,” Woolverton reportedly wrote. “I have received Jesus as my savior and my sins are forgiven, but I still hurt so deeply because of what I have done and who I have hurt.” (click HERE for the original article)

Here are some previous articles on this sick whack job!

Major due in court on child porn charges – Friday Oct 16, 2009
Army major in Arlington accused of producing child porn – October 14, 2009
According to THIS website Woolverton raped his OWN infant child!

I hope that God does not actually forgive people for these sorts of atrocities. I personally feel there is a special place in Hell for people like this! ~ Ms Sparky

Posted in A Soldiers Story, Indictments, Convictions & Arrests, Rape, Hazing, Discrimination & Harassment, U.S. Army. Tags: Child Porn, Convictions, Deborah Woolverton, Major Daniel A Woolverton, Rape. 13 Comments »

Lawmakers, lawbreakers & other criminals – the news this week

Posted on: July 10th, 2010 at 8:42 am — by Forseti

U.S. Presses Pentagon Contractors – Fuel Suppliers to Afghanistan Are Accused of Stonewalling Investigation by Masking Ownership
KABUL—U.S. congressional investigators have upped the ante in their confrontation with two top Pentagon contractors who have received billions of dollars supplying fuel to troops in Afghanistan but have refused to reveal their owners.

A congressional oversight committee has accused the contractors of stonewalling its investigation into the company and issued subpoenas ordering top officials of the companies, Red Star Enterprises Ltd. and Mina Corp., to report for questioning later this month.

The standoff between the investigators and contractors comes amid heightened tensions over spending on the nine-year-old war in Afghanistan. Some politicians in Congress are calling for a cutoff in aid until the billions being poured into the war effort is better accounted for.

The committee launched an investigation into Mina Corp. and Red Star in May, after a bloody revolt in Kyrgyzstan toppled that Central Asian republic’s authoritarian president, Kurmanbek Bakiyev.

The new government in Kyrgyzstan accused Red Star and Mina Corp. of an overly cozy relationship with the deposed regime, and said that company officials included the toppled president’s son, Maksim Bakiyev, in their business, in order to smooth fuel deliveries to the U.S. air base in Kyrgyzstan, which has been a major hub for supplies into Afghanistan.

Congress has been outraged at recent reports of pallets of cash being flown out of the airport in Kabul, as well as the apparent indifference of Afghan President Hamid Karzai to allegations of corruption in his own government.

But the current standoff over fuel contracts to coalition forces involves U.S. officials, not Afghans. Some of the chief officers in the contracting companies, Red Star and Mina, have been retired U.S. military officers who for the past seven years worked closely with the Pentagon to become a near monopoly supplier of aviation fuel to U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Since 2003 the Pentagon has disbursed more than $2.2 billion to the companies for fuel deliveries to Bagram air base in Afghanistan and Manas air base in Kyrgyzstan. (Click HERE for article)

(Read the rest of the story here…)